It’s been a long time since I’ve thought much about my eyewear onboard, but Vallon changed all that this summer when I tested a pair of the Swedish company’s new Malizia sunglasses. The first time I hit the water wearing them, I was stunned at the clarity and depth the V52 polarized lenses provided. I think I actually see better with them on than off. At 14% VLT (visible light transmission), they offer category 3 level eye protection, with anti-scratch and hydro- and -oleophobic coatings (which means they’re specially treated to repel water and oils). Weighing just over an ounce, they somehow established a perfect feel and fit right out of the box. Even more cool, the impact resistant black matte frames are made of 85% recycled fishing nets. Vallon teamed up with Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia to create the Malizia glasses. Herrmann, who finished third with Team Malizia in The Ocean Race in 2023 and is set to take on the Vendée Globe this fall in Malizia-Sea Explorer, has long been an ardent advocate for the environment. “As a longstanding friend of the brand with a strong sustainability ethos at the core of his work, Boris was an obvious partner for Vallon,” the company said in a media release. For each pair that’s sold, Vallon will plant 10 mangrove seedlings in the Malizia Mangrove Park in Mati, Philippines, an effort to increase the carbon sequestration capacity that mangroves provide as well as support the local economy and ecosystem. €145 (about $158 U.S.) vallon.com
—Wendy Mitman Clarke
SAIL New Boats & Gear 2025 is here and it’s chock-a-block with new boat reviews by SAIL‘s boat review team, info on the latest models hitting the water, and gear SAIL‘s editors have checked out as well. It’s available on newsstands, so head to your nearest West Marine or Barnes & Noble, or catch us at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis in October to say hi and get your issue.
NBGR 2025
